NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has moved a private member’s Bill titled the Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Act, 2026, for introduction in the upcoming Budget Session of the Goa
Legislative Assembly.
The draft legislation has been prepared by former Chief Justice Ferdino Rebello and was shared with Sardesai under the ‘Enough is Enough’ movement. The Budget Session is scheduled to commence on March 6 and will continue for 14 days until March 27.
Sardesai said he received an email from Retd Chief Justice Ferdino Rebello enclosing the draft Bill, which he said reflects the concerns of people over the protection of agricultural land in the state.
He said the Bill seeks to restore the status quo ante prior to the amendments to Section 17(2) and Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, as well as provisions of the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural
Land Act, 2023.
Sardesai said the proposed legislation is aimed at safeguarding agricultural land and addressing concerns arising from recent amendments. He added that the issue concerns the future of villages and the identity of Goa, and described the move as an effort to protect the state’s land and resources.
